Surprise, surprise

Tolossa and Denisova come from out of nowhere to win the marathon

‘Citizen runner’ sets record

This is how you crash a party in style.

Lyubov Denisova, uninvited but undaunted, blitzed the rest of the women's field at the Honolulu Marathon yesterday. The Russian ran nearly half the race alone and still broke the course record.

Denisova's time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 19 seconds erased the standard set by her daughter's godmother in 2004, when Lyubov Morgunova was 14 ticks slower.

It also earned Denisova bonuses that made her total prize $67,000, the biggest purse for either gender in the 34-year history of the race.

She wasn't even supposed to be here. The race was already completely booked with elite female athletes when the 35-year-old Denisova expressed interest, and the budget didn't allow for an appearance fee or expenses.

Denisova, who didn't run in New York last month for similar reasons, plus illness, decided to enter Honolulu anyway. She filled out a registration form on the Internet, just like thousands of other "citizen runners."

"She decided she's better than the Russian women here and could beat them," race director Jon Cross said.

"It just goes to show anyone can win," said her manager, Andrey Baranov.

Not really. Denisova isn't just anyone. Her being initially issued a zip code instead of a single-digit bib number didn't change the fact that she is one of the best female marathoners in the world. She won at Los Angeles in 2002 and 2005.

And she was the best by far on Oahu yesterday; second-place Alevtina Biktimirova finished more than 2 minutes behind Denisova.

Denisova took a gamble, investing in airfare and other expenses to compete here uninvited.

"She is very stubborn," Baranov said.

Denisova even put down a payment for a house in Gainesville, Fla., where she trained specifically for this race. There's nothing in Gainesville to simulate the Honolulu course's hills, but the humidity in the fall can be like Hawaii's.

Yesterday's early conditions were as good as they can get here; 72 degrees with little wind.

"She had a great day to run. But she took advantage of it right from the start," said radio commentator and running legend Greg Meyer.

Denisova -- whose only other appearance here was as the pace-setter in 2002 -- decided early she didn't need the services of this year's rabbit, Olga Romanova. She took charge 2 miles in, and settled in with a knot of male runners.

"The pace was slow for me, and I was concerned with my personal results," Denisova said, through interpreter Mikalai Litvin. "I didn't have any strategy from the very beginning."

Meanwhile, most of the other female elites fell back, including defending champion Olesya Nurgalieva, her twin Elena, and Eri Hayakawa, who has a first and two seconds here since 2003.

Only Biktimirova remained. She made a charge 8 miles into the race to catch up to Denisova. She stayed within 10 feet of her until the 25-kilometer mark, when Denisova burst away -- from Biktimirova and the remaining men in her group.

"I was a little bit concerned that there might be some race in the second half," Denisova said. "But I just ran away."

It was over. But -- like Jimmy Muindi in the men's race last year -- it became Denisova against the record book.

Her experience as the rabbit here in 2002 was of no use. She dropped out before the "back nine" four years ago (and she said running in the dark with her weak eyesight gave her no reference for the first 13 miles of the course, either).

"I didn't know anything. I just started the race, and I finished it," Denisova said. "My goal was the record. Each mile I was just checking the time."

Her pace predictably slowed up on the final hills, but she had enough kick left to break the record.

And then, like a gambler who hits it big in Vegas, Denisova got comped.

"We were definitely reimbursing her entry fee," Cross said. "Now we will give her airfare, room and per diem. We want to make sure she comes back to defend her title."

Assuming Denisova does come back, it will mean another geography lesson for her daughter, Anastasia -- whom she said was her inspiration.

"I called her and told her I was running in Hawaii and to look at where Hawaii is on the globe," she said.

As for today's celebration, it involves a fancy Ferrari that Baranov plans to lease for $1,100. Denisova shook her head violently when asked who would drive.

On this tour of Honolulu's streets, she'll just be along for the ride.